Indian tourists visiting the iconic Eiffel Tower in France will soon have the convenience of making payments in Indian rupees, thanks to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) mechanism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to France, announced that India and France have reached an agreement to enable the usage of UPI in the country. The agreement will commence with the world-famous Eiffel Tower, allowing Indian tourists to make payments in rupees through a mobile app.
Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Paris, sharing the news of the finalized agreement between India and France. He expressed his excitement about the usage of UPI starting from the Eiffel Tower, bringing greater convenience and ease for Indian tourists.
With this development, Indian visitors will now have the option to make payments in rupees while visiting the Eiffel Tower, eliminating the need for currency conversion and providing a seamless payment experience.
The collaboration between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and France’s secure online payment system, Lyra, laid the foundation for this arrangement. In 2022, the NPCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lyra, paving the way for UPI’s integration in France.
This landmark agreement between Lyra and UPI marks the first such collaboration between a European country and India, opening doors for further international partnerships and enhancing the global reach of UPI.
The availability of UPI payments at the Eiffel Tower signifies the growing influence and acceptance of India’s digital payment ecosystem on a global scale. It showcases the success and reliability of UPI, which has revolutionized the way payments are made in India.
As UPI gains recognition and adoption worldwide, Indian tourists can look forward to seamless and secure payment experiences not only in their home country but also during their international travels.
The integration of UPI at the Eiffel Tower is a testament to the commitment of both India and France to embrace digital innovation and enhance the convenience and accessibility of financial transactions for their citizens and visitors alike.
With this significant step, UPI is poised to make its mark on the global stage, facilitating smooth and efficient payment experiences for Indian tourists and contributing to the vision of a digitally connected world.
